Prime Minister Haradinaj seeks to empower the fight against corruption, organised crime

The seventh summit of the Law's rule is held, led by Republika Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj. For their work and targets, Kosovo Police and Anti-Corruption Agency reported.

According to the media communiqué, Prime Minister Haradinaj said our justice system is in the process of change, and we have to speed up this change by improving each institution's performance and for this one more must be done in the fight against corruption for rule of law to produce concrete results.

Speaking of the legislative agenda, Prime Minister Haradinaj said that in co-operation with the Kosovo Assembly, legislative agenda should be accelerated, where important legislative reform laws and documents dealing with this area are needed.

Kosovo Police enjoy high confidence from our citizens. It is a loan institution from which even our entire effort to fight crime” begins, Prime Minister Haradinaj said, thanking international institutions for continued support given to the country's institutions, separately to the Kosovo Police.

Kosovo Police General Director Shpend Maxun, after presenting the work, activities and objectives of the Kosovo Police, unveiled concrete data of the fight against organised crime and corruption, showing that 438 criminal acts against economic crime and corruption have been investigated so far and is working on the fight against terrorism, narcotics seizures and in many areas that concern the work of the Kosovo Police.

At this meeting it was also said that in the area of combating economic crime and corruption, 9 police operations -- 28 operational plans -- 91 suspected persons have been arrested, 370 criminal charges have been established and 7 organised criminal groups destroyed. Also, 1,000 lectures were held in schools, 75 agreements with 18 states and 5 liaison offices were signed.

Citing the challenges facing Kosovo police, director Maxhuni said the Kosovo Police membership in INTERPOL and EUROOPOL remains the challenge, the average age of policemen and lack of vehicles and helicopters.

Anti-Corruption Agency Director Shaip Havolly indicated that under the laws in force, mandatory to declare property, there are 6 242 senior public officials, 886 officials have been subjected to full control, in 563 cases no changes have been observed, in 340 cases have been noted and additional clarifications have been requested, in 115 cases have been prosecuted, and 1 case has been forwarded to the Kosovo Tax Administration. As for the conflict of interest, 166 cases have been addressed, in 79 of them the conflict has been avoided, 21 cases have resulted without conflict, 31 cases have been submitted for investigation into the procedure of preliminary investigations, 1 case has been initiated as a violation and request for dismissal.

The justice minister said the package of laws for fighting corruption is improving, and urged increased effectiveness through reviewing the list of officials who declare wealth.

US Ambassador to Kosovo Greg Delaway said that the United States of America has respect for the Kosovo Police and added that everyone must learn from the successes, but also from the challenges.

The chief of the European Union Office in Kosovo, Natalia Apostolova, said Kosovo Police and Anti-Corruption Agency are important acts for the rule of the law and the European agenda. The European Union has been active in building capacity in the police and are pleased that police are one of the key institutions in the country and that it will continue supporting these two institutions.

Finance Minister Bedri Hamza, Justice Minister Abelard Tahiri, United States Ambassador to Kosovo Greg Delawie, chief of the European Union Office in Kosovo, Nataliya Apostolova, EULEX chief Alexander Papadopoulos, as well as representatives of Kosovo's Prosecutor, Judiciary, Police and Customs.